Tag: Chiloe

In early September of 2015, the President of Chile Michelle Bachelet officially presented the new image of Origin Mark, the result of a collaborative work between the National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI) and Fundación Imagen de Chile. Three months later, the Origin Mark acknowledged the Tomato from Limache. The new face on this successful program is not a simple whim. It responds to a strongly belief to position the program, recognizing our traditions and customs, as well as entrepreneurs, farmers and artisans.

In the first place, the Origin Mark pursues consumers on a clear manner to easily notice the products recognized for being unique, having a certain quality and enjoying a high local ties. Every day customer assigns a greater value to product origin and the making method they are consuming. Thanks to the linkage provides by the Origin Mark is easier to foreground in the market those products that enhance local work.

During the last couple of years it is not a coincides that Chilean food restaurants and large supermarket chains have decided to offer local product with added value; in the past those were very difficult to find, such as Chiloe Potatoes or Azapa Olives. There is a global tendency to set the eyes in similar local products. There are many blue cheeses; however to the experts there is only one Gorgonzola (Italy), just one Roquefort (France) and one Stilton (England). Nowadays, in Chile everyone acknowledge the Lemon from Pica (a small village in the north of Chile) as unique and customers are willing to pay a premium for it instead of the generic lemon.

On the other hand, the producer, thanks to our program, takes a favorable position in the market, especially when the offer is the result of an associated process. For example: the Salt from Cáhuil, Boyeruca and Lo Valdivia, which before to receive their Origin Denomination (O.D.) was selling in bulk at the cost price; today they are in the supermarkets, gourmet stores and recently made their first exportation to Spain.

Mainly when a product has the Origin Denomination or Geographical Indication (G.I.) -both under the Origin Mark program-, legal protection from unfair competition prevails. Also enables rightful owners to prevent third parties to misrepresent their products as coming from the geographical area covered by such types of industrial property. In other words, avoids the “pig in a poke”.

Definitively, the country provides a strong signal by this program, implicitly expressing their commitment to preserve their traditions. Thus, leads to a strong impetus to entrepreneurship and productive development, especially among local communities.

Therefore, the efforts have not only focused in guiding the new applicants during the process, but also strategies has been designed to offer better visibility to protect products, through G.I., O.D., Collective Trademark or Certificated Trademark. This aims to support our producers to take place in trade fair and show their products at the highest level, to later be used by chefs and experts around the globe.

Today at the entry of small Chilean villages of La Ligua and Pomaire, there are sideboards notifying drivers entering a zone with Origin Marks products. The same will happen in every place associated to the Origin Mark. Hence it has begun to lay the foundations of new tourist routes, from the recognition by INAPI and our program. Origin Mark definitively leaves its footprint.

About Your LATAM FlagshIP

The Latin America IPR SME Helpdesk team proudly welcomes you to its brand new blog, in which you will find updated information concerning Intellectual Property Rights in Latin America, as well as other interesting information about SMEs, Internationalization, R&D or Innovation.

Implemented by

The Latin America IPR SME Helpdesk is a free service for SMEs which provides practical, objective and factual information about Intellectual Property Rights in Latin America. The services are not of a legal or advisory nature and no responsibility is accepted for the results of any actions made on the basis of its services. The content and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the European Commission and/or the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises or any other body of the European Union.

Before taking specific actions in relation to IPR protection or enforcement all customers are advised to seek independent advice. Neither the European Commission nor the Agency may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained herein.
Our Privacy Policy